Tag Archives: Debian

Run Raspberry Pi’s PIXEL Desktop on a PC or Mac – an Exton modified Build 170425 with Refracta Tools

NEWS 170425 about Raspberry Pi Debian Pixel
I have updated my first Debian Pixel Build from 161223. Study all included packages – latest by 170425. I’ve added NetworkManager, which makes it easier to configure wireless connections.

NEWS 161223
Yesterday I read that the Raspberry Pi Foundation has announced the release of a new PIXEL image that can be booted on a PC or Mac. Study this site. I saw immediately that there was no installer included, which I thought was a little disappointing. Come to think of Refracta tools, which work very well in Debian and Ubuntu. I quickly made a “remix” of the Raspberry Pi Foundation PIXEL image. My remix thus include Refracta tools. This means that you can easily install the system to hard drive and you can just as easily make your own remix of the Raspberry Pi Foundation PIXEL image. Study all included packages. I’ve added a few packages. Most important Synaptic, which I find essential.

About the PIXEL Desktop
Raspbian had its biggest update ever in September, 2016, thanks to a dazzling new desktop environment called PIXEL. Raspbian with PIXEL (which stands for ‘Pi Improved Xwindow Environment, Lightweight’) is a huge software update to the desktop environment. It introduces a crisp new interface, and is brimming with new programs and features.

VirtualBox and VMware
My build/image works very well in VirtualBox and VMware. I.e. you can run the system directly from the ISO file and also install it to a virtual hard drive. You can of course also make your own Debian system with the the PIXEL Desktop using Refracta snapshot (pre-installed).

KERNEL
Kernel 3.16.0-4-686-pae is used. PAE (Physical Address Extension) increases the physical memory addressable by the system from 4 GB to 64 GB.

Login and passwords
Log in to the PIXEL Desktop as the ordinary user pi or as root. The passwords are raspberrypi respectively root. When logged in as pi you can use Sudo to become root. (Command: sudo su).

Spotify
You may want to install Spotify. Just go ahead. It’s very easy. When running my PIXEL image live or from hard drive you can just install Spotify with the command sudo apt-get install spotify-client. Watch a screenshot when Spotify is running.

Important about Refracta
You can use the Refracta tools (pre-installed) to create your own installable Debian PIXEL system once you have installed my build to hard drive. I mean change everything and then create a whole new Debian live system. Start Refracta from Menu >> System tools >> Refracta snapshot. You don’t even have to install my build to hard drive before you can use the Refracta tools. If you have plenty of RAM you can create a new (your own!) Debian PIXEL system while running my build from DVD or a USB stick. Please note that the whole Refracta process (creating your new ISO file) will only take 5 – 10 min!  Please edit the configuration file /etc/refractasnapshot.conf first. Change line 45 and 46. I.e. decide where you want the ISO file to be build. The whole thing is very simple. NOTE: You can also do everything in VirtualBox or VMware. Use FileZilla (pre-installed) to transfer your new ISO file to your server.

Install to Debian PIXEL hard drive
Just start Refracta Installer from Menu >> System tools >> Refracta Installer and follow the instructions. Very simple.

Install Debian PIXEL to a USB stick
You can use Rufus in Windows. Persistence can’t be enabled though. You can also use UNetbootin in Windows or Linux. The best way to do it is to burn Debian PIXEL to a DVD, start up the system from the DVD and then use Refracta Installer for the installation. Choose “Expert Installation”. Choose to install Grub in MBR on /dev/sdb. (Normally your USB stick, but check it carefully!) I.e. you will get a chance to choose between /dev/sda and /dev/sdb. This method will (of course) give you perfect persistence.

Watch the slideshow below showing the Refracta installation process. It’s for LFA (Linux for all), but it works in the same way in Debian PIXEL.

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot 1 – Spotify running
Screenshot 2 – Samba running (reach your Windows computers in your network)
Screenshot 3 – Refracta Snapshot has started
Screenshot 4 – Refracta Installer has started in VMware
Screenshot 5 – Wireless connection with NetworkManager (installed in Build 170425)
Wifi connection using NetworkManager – in detail
Wifi connection established

DOWNLOAD
This build has been replaced by Build 180315.

Other Exton Linux Systems you may like
All Exton Linux Systems
Exton Systems for the Raspberry Pi computer
Exton Android Systems for PC’s

Run your Ubuntu/Debian 64 bit system with the latest stable kernel – 4.9!

linuxI have compiled yet another Ubuntu/Debian kernel for 64 bit systems. This time kernel 4.9.0-11-exton, equivalent to Kernel.org’s latest stable kernel 4.9 released 161211.

What’s new in Linux kernel 4.9?

Install kernel 4.9.0-11-exton in Ubuntu/Debian based distributions
My self-compiled Ubuntu kernels can be used in all types of modern Ubuntu systems, including Mint. They can even be used in Debian Jessie (Debian 8.6) and Debian Stretch (upcoming Debian 9). If you want to use my kernel 4.9.0-11-exton for 64 bit systems, you can DOWNLOAD it from here.

md5sum for ubuntu-kernel-64bit-4.9.0-11-exton.zip which is of 71,5 MB.

Installation instructions
Open the zip-file with WinZip, WinRAR or 7-Zip. Or run this command: unzip ubuntu-kernel-64bit-4.9.0-11-exton.zip. Go into the folder ubuntu-kernel-64bit-4.9.0-11-exton and run this command:
sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Then: Run command sudo update-grub (if you use Grub2).

Nvidia
It is possible to install Nvidia’s proprietary drivers if you use “my” kernel 4.9.0-11-exton. Could be useful if you like to play games. The Nvidia drivers in for example Ubuntu’s repositories – “Current” etc. – can’t be used. It is supposed to be “impossible” to install Nvidia’s latest drivers when running kernel 4.8 – 4.9 without “patches” etc. On the other hand it’s a fact that kernel 4.9 has better support for the open-source Nvidia driver Nouveau than any other older kernel.

A small clarification
“My” kernel 4.9.0-11-exton is compiled (almost) the same way as all official Ubuntu kernels. That is, The Ubuntu Way. If not, the kernel would not function in a Ubuntu/Debian system.

Good luck!

Exton|OS Light Build 161021 :: Based on Ubuntu 16.10 with kernel 4.8.0-25-exton (4.8.1)

exton-os-logo-worldNEWS 161021 about Exton|OS Light Live DVD – ISO file of 970 MB
I’ve made a new extra version of Exton|OS based on Ubuntu 16.10 (alias Yakkety Yak) 64 bit with only a minimum of packages pre-installed. Among them a terminal emulator (LXTerminal), a Web Browser (Google Chrome – so you can run Netflix), SMPlayer, SMTube (YouTube browser which allows to browse, search and play YouTube videos), PCManFM (file manager), NetworkManager, GParted (Partition Editor), Samba (so you can reach your Windows computers), Audacious (a small and fast audio player which supports lots of formats) and Synaptic (Package Manager). I give you the pleasure of installing all extra packages you need after a hard disk installation of Exton|OS Light. Use Synaptic for that. You can of course also install new packages while running the system live (from DVD/USB stick), but nothing will be saved after a reboot. Unless you have followed my USB Install Instruction (under B) or used UNetbootin) and used Boot alternative 2 – Persistent when you have used UNetbootin. If you have plenty of RAM you can even install big programs (such as LibreOffice) while running the system live even from DVD. Exton|OS Light’s Window manager Openbox guarantees lightness and elegance.

Packages

All installed packages in Exton|OS Light have been updated to the latest available version as at October 21, 2016. Study the full package list.

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 4.8.0-25-exton, equivalent to Kernel.org’s kernel 4.8.1. You can download “my” kernel if you want to use it in another Ubuntu/Debian system.

SCREENSHOTS
See a screenshot of Exton|OS Light’s Openbox Desktop
See a screenshot of Exton|OS Light’s Openbox Desktop when Samba is used
See a screenshot when Google Chrome with Netflix is running
See a screenshot when Spotify is running – (install Spotify with: sudo apt-get install spotify-client)

READ MORE…

 

RaspEX for Raspberry Pi 3/2 – Build 161019 – based on Ubuntu 16.10 with LXDE and kernel 4.4.21

raspberry-logoNEWS 161019 about RaspEX LXDE for Raspberry Pi 3 and Pi 2
I have upgraded the whole system and replaced the old kernel 4.1.20 with kernel 4.4.21. RaspEX Build 161019 is a Linux ARM system for Raspberry Pi 3 and Pi 2. It is based on Debian Jessie (Debian 8.6), Ubuntu Yakkety Yak (Ubuntu 16.10, released 161013) and Linaro (Open Source software for ARM SoCs). In this new version (161019) I’ve installed Wicd Network Manager and replaced Chromium with Firefox with better support for YouTube. I have also installed Samba and VNC4Server so you can connect to your Windows computers in your Home Network and/or control RaspEX on your Raspberry Pi 3 or Pi 2 from your Windows computers with VNC Viewer and/or PuTTY (Telnet and SSH client). Furthermore some extra Network Tools, Midori Private Browser, SMTube (YouTube browser which allows to browse, search and play YouTube videos) and PulseAudio for better sound in YouTube. Study all installed packages in RaspEX Build 161019.

The Raspberry Pi 3 is the third generation Raspberry Pi. It replaced the Raspberry Pi 2 Model B in February 2016.

Compatibility :: October 2016

Unfortunately not all systems made for Raspberry Pi 2 will run on the new Pi 3. They need to be upgraded with a new kernel. I therefore have to upgrade the systems I distribute. I.e. RaspEX with LXDE, RaspEX with Kodi, RaspEX with OpenCPN, RaspAnd Marshmallow, RaspAnd Lollipop and RaspArch. I have now (161019) upgraded all systems. Read about the new Raspberry Pi 3…

Why shall I use RaspEX?
Eight Operating Systems are recommended by Raspberrypi.org. Among them Noobs, Raspbian (Debian Jessie) and Snappy Ubuntu Core. RaspEX is faster (“fast as lightning”), more useful and more fun to use. (In my opinion). One member at this site thought that running RaspEX (for Raspberry Pi 2) was like running Raspberry Pi on “steroids“. RaspEX Build 161019 and 160426 are (of course) even faster, especially if you run the systems on a Raspberry Pi 3 computer.

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot 1 – RaspEX connected to Windows via Samba
Screenshot 2 – RaspEX connected to Windows via PuTTy
Screenshot 3 – RaspEX “running on” Windows with VNC-viewer
Screenshot 4 – RaspEX running Midori Private Browser
Screenshot 5 – RaspEX using Pavucontrol (for sound)
Screenshot 6 – RaspEX running SMTube (search and watch YouTube videos)

READ MORE…

ExTiX 16.5 – based on Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety Yak – with LXQt 0.10.0 and kernel 4.8.0-21-exton

extix-logo-black-white-bgI have made a new version of ExTiX – The Ultimate Linux System. I call it ExTiX 16.5 LXQt Live DVD. (The previous version was 16.3 from 160530).

ABOUT
ExTiX 16.5 LXQt DVD 64 bit is based on Debian 8.6 Jessie/Debian 9 Stretch and upcoming Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety Yak. (Ubuntu 16.10 is to be officially released 161013). The original system includes the Desktop Environment Unity (Ubuntu). After removing Unity I have installed LXQt 0.10.0. LXQt is the Qt port and the upcoming version of LXDE, the Lightweight Desktop Environment. It is the product of the merge between the LXDE-Qt and the Razor-qt projects: A lightweight, modular, blazing-fast and user-friendly desktop environment.

Installed packages
Google Chrome (for Netflix), LibreOffice, BlueGriffon Web Editor, Thunderbird, GParted, Brasero, SMPlayer, GCC and other compilation tools so that you can install packages from source. Furthermore “all” multimedia codecs. Everything the average Linux user could wish for I would say.

NVIDIA
I have also installed Nvidia’s proprietary graphics driver 370.28 in this new version ExTiX LXQt. It has support for the following GPUs: Quadro K1200, Quadro M6000, Quadro P6000, Quadro P5000, GeForce 920M, GeForce 930A, GeForce 930M, GeForce 940M, GeForce GTX 950M, GeForce GTX 960M and GeForce GTX TITAN X. This driver will be used automatically if your card is supported.

The system language is ENGLISH.

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 4.8.0-21-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s stable kernel 4.8. It’s the second latest stable kernel as of now.

What’s new in kernel 4.8?

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot of ExTiX 16.5 Desktop – LXQt 0.10.0
Google Chrome with Netflix running
Connections to Windows computers via PCManFM using Samba

READ MORE…

DebEX Gnome Live DVD with Gnome 3.22 (latest), Mate 1.16 (latest) and kernel 4.8 (latest)

debex-gnome-live-desktop-smallAbout DebEX Barebone, DebEX Gnome and DebEX KDE Linux 64 bit
All three systems/distributions are a based on Debian. DebEX KDE is based on Debian Jessie (Debian 8.6). DebEX Barebone and DebEX Gnome are based on Debian testing (Stretch) and Debian unstable (Sid). Xfce 4.12 (released 150228 after about three years work!) is used as Desktop environment in DebEX Barebone. Gnome 3.22 and Mate 1.16 are used in DebEX Gnome. KDE 4.14.2 and KDE Plasma Desktop 5:84 are used in DebEX KDE. DebEX Gnome uses my special kernel 4.8.0-21-exton. (Kernel 4.8). DebEX KDE uses my special kernel 4.8.0-18-exton. (Kernel 4.8-rc8). DebEX Barebone uses my special kernel 4.3.0-5-exton. (Kernel 4.3.3). The system language is English (in all three versions of DebEX).

NEWS 161007 about DebEX Gnome
I have made a new extra version of DebEX, which I call DebEX Gnome Live DVD. It’s a pure Debian system using the testing (stretch) and unstable (sid) repositories. Two Desktop Environments are pre-installed. Gnome 3.22 (latest) and Mate 1.16 (latest). I have also installed Nvidia’s proprietary graphics driver 370.28 in this new version of DebEX. To be able to enjoy Gnome 3.22 while running DebEX live (from DVD or a USB stick) you’ll need to have a new Nvidia graphics card installed. You can see which cards are supported here. Otherwise you’ll have to settle for Mate 1.16. (Not a bad choice btw). Furthermore I have installed Google Chrome to make it possible to watch Netflix movies. All other installed packages have also been updated to the latest version as of 161007. DebEX Gnome uses kernel 4.8.0-21-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s latest stable kernel 4.8.

SCREENSHOTS
The Gnome 3.22 Desktop logged in as the ordinary user live
The Mate 3.16 Desktop logged in as root

READ MORE…

Exton|OS Light Build 160728 :: Based on Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS with kernel 4.6.0-9-exton (4.6.4)

exton-os-logo-worldNEWS 160728 about Exton|OS Light Live DVD – ISO file of 885 MB
I’ve made a new extra version of Exton|OS based on Ubuntu 16.04.1 (alias Xenial Xerus) 64 bit with only a minimum of packages pre-installed. Among them a terminal emulator (LXTerminal), a Web Browser (Google Chrome – so you can run Netflix), PCManFM (file manager), NetworkManager, GParted (Partition Editor), Samba (so you can reach your Windows computers) and Synaptic (Package Manager). I give you the pleasure of installing all extra packages you need after a hard disk installation of Exton|OS Light. Use Synaptic for that. You can of course also install new packages while running the system live (from DVD/USB stick), but nothing will be saved after a reboot. Unless you have followed my USB Install Instruction (under B) or used UNetbootin) and used Boot alternative 2 – Persistent when you have used UNetbootin. If you have plenty of RAM you can even install big programs (such as LibreOffice) while running the system live even from DVD. Exton|OS Light’s Window manager Openbox guarantees lightness and elegance.

Replacement
This version of Exton|OS Light from 160728 replaces version 160207 of Exton|OS Light. Exton|OS Light is now based on Debian Stretch/Sid and Ubuntu 16.04.1 (released 160721).

About
Exton|OS Light Live CD is based on Ubuntu 16.04.1 Xenial Xerus 64 bit and Debian Stretch/Sid. Exton|OS Light’s ISO file (of 885 MB!) is a ISO-hybrid, which means that it can very easily be transferred (copied) to an USB pen drive. You can then even run Exton|OS from the USB stick and save all your system changes on the stick. I.e. you will enjoy persistence! Read my USB INSTRUCTION under B).

Packages
All installed packages in Exton|OS Light have been updated to the latest available version as at July 28, 2016. Study the full package list.

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 4.6.0-9-exton, equivalent to Kernel.org’s kernel 4.6.4. You can download “my” kernel if you want to use it in another Ubuntu/Debian system.

SCREENSHOTS
See a screenshot of Exton|OS Light’s Openbox Desktop
See a screenshot of Exton|OS Light’s Openbox Desktop when Samba is used
See a screenshot when Google Chrome with Netflix is running

READ MORE…

Run your Ubuntu/Debian 64 bit system with the latest stable kernel – 4.6!

linuxI have compiled yet another Ubuntu/Debian kernel for 64 bit systems. This time kernel 4.6.0-exton, equivalent to Kernel.org’s latest stable kernel 4.6 released 160515.

What’s new in Linux kernel 4.6?

Install kernel 4.6.0-exton in Ubuntu/Debian based distributions
My self-compiled Ubuntu kernels can be used in all types of modern Ubuntu systems, including Mint. They can even be used in Debian Jessie (Debian 8.4) and Debian Stretch (upcoming Debian 9). If you want to use my kernel 4.6.0-exton for 64 bit systems, you can DOWNLOAD it from here.

md5sum for ubuntu-kernel-64bit-4.6.0-exton.zip which is of 53,4 MB.

Installation instructions
Open the zip-file with WinZip, WinRAR or 7-Zip. Or run this command: unzip ubuntu-kernel-64bit-4.6.0-exton.zip. Go into the folder ubuntu-kernel-64bit-4.6.0-exton and run this command:
sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Then: Run command sudo update-grub (if you use Grub2).

Nvidia
It is possible to install Nvidia’s proprietary drivers if you use “my” kernel 4.6.0-exton. Could be useful if you like to play games. Please read this instruction. The Nvidia drivers in for example Ubuntu’s repositories – “Current” etc. – can’t be used. It is supposed to be “impossible” to install Nvidia’s latest drivers when running kernel 4.0 – 4.6 without “patches” etc. On the other hand it’s a fact that kernel 4.6 has better support for the open-source Nvidia driver Nouveau than any other older kernel.

A small clarification
“My” kernel 4.6.0-exton is compiled (almost) the same way as all official Ubuntu kernels. That is, The Ubuntu Way. If not, the kernel would not function in a Ubuntu/Debian system.

Good luck!

Run your Ubuntu/Debian 64 bit system with the latest stable kernel – 4.5.3!

linuxI have compiled yet another Ubuntu/Debian kernel for 64 bit systems. This time kernel 4.5.3-exton, equivalent to Kernel.org’s latest stable kernel 4.5.3 released 160504.

What’s new in Linux kernel 4.5.3?

Install kernel 4.5.3-exton in Ubuntu/Debian based distributions
My self-compiled Ubuntu kernels can be used in all types of modern Ubuntu systems, including Mint. They can even be used in Debian Jessie (Debian 8.4) and Debian Stretch (upcoming Debian 9). If you want to use my kernel 4.5.3-exton for 64 bit systems, you can DOWNLOAD it from here.

md5sum for ubuntu-kernel-64bit-4.5.3-exton.zip which is of 53,1 MB.

Installation instructions
Open the zip-file with WinZip, WinRAR or 7-Zip. Or run this command: unzip ubuntu-kernel-64bit-4.5.3-exton.zip. Go into the folder ubuntu-kernel-64bit-4.5.3-exton and run this command:
sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Then: Run command sudo update-grub (if you use Grub2).

Nvidia
It is possible to install Nvidia’s proprietary drivers if you use “my” kernel 4.5.3-exton. Could be useful if you like to play games. Please read this instruction. The Nvidia drivers in for example Ubuntu’s repositories – “Current” etc. – can’t be used. It is supposed to be “impossible” to install Nvidia’s latest drivers when running kernel 4.0 – 4.5 without “patches” etc. On the other hand it’s a fact that kernel 4.5.3 has better support for the open-source Nvidia driver Nouveau than any other older kernel.

A small clarification
“My” kernel 4.5.3-exton is compiled (almost) the same way as all official Ubuntu kernels. That is, The Ubuntu Way. If not, the kernel would not function in a Ubuntu/Debian system.

Good luck!

Run your Ubuntu/Debian 64 bit system with the latest stable kernel – 4.4.0!

linuxI have compiled yet another Ubuntu/Debian kernel for 64 bit systems. This time kernel 4.4.0-0-exton, equivalent to Kernel.org’s latest stable kernel 4.4.0 released 160110.

What’s new in kernel 4.4?

Install kernel 4.4.0-0-exton in Ubuntu/Debian based distributions
My self-compiled Ubuntu kernels can be used in all types of modern Ubuntu systems, including Mint. They can even be used in Debian Jessie (Debian 8.2) and Debian Stretch (upcoming Debian 9). If you want to use my kernel 4.4.0-0-exton for 64 bit systems, you can DOWNLOAD it from here.

md5sum for ubuntu-kernel-64bit-4.4.0-0-exton.zip which is of 65,9 MB.

Installation instructions
Open the zip-file with WinZip, WinRAR or 7-Zip. Or run this command: unzip ubuntu-kernel-64bit-4.4.0-0-exton.zip. Go into the folder ubuntu-kernel-64bit-4.4.0-0-exton and run this command:
sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Then: Run command sudo update-grub (if you use Grub2).

Nvidia
It is possible to install Nvidia’s proprietary drivers if you use “my” kernel 4.4.0-0-exton. Could be useful if you like to play games. Please read this instruction. The Nvidia drivers in for example Ubuntu’s repositories – “Current” etc. – can’t be used. It is supposed to be “impossible” to install Nvidia’s latest drivers when running kernel 4.0 – 4.4 without “patches” etc. On the other hand it’s a fact that kernel 4.4 has better support for the open-source Nvidia driver Nouveau than any other older kernel.

A small clarification
“My” kernel 4.4.0-0-exton is compiled exactly the same way as all official Ubuntu kernels. That is, The Ubuntu Way. If not, the kernel would not function in a Ubuntu/Debian system.

Good luck!